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California State University at Bakersfield Athletics

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January 08 2021: CSU Bakersfield vs Cal Poly
David Dennis/All-Star Sports Photography
90
Winner Cal St. Fullerton CSF 5-5,4-5 Big West
84
CSU Bakersfield CSUB 10-6,6-3 Big West
Winner
Cal St. Fullerton CSF
5-5,4-5 Big West
90
Final
84
CSU Bakersfield CSUB
10-6,6-3 Big West
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Cal St. Fullerton CSF 32 58 90
CSU Bakersfield CSUB 30 54 84

Game Recap: Men's Basketball |

Titans Outlast `Runners in Shootout, 90-84

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. – A shootout broke out in the second half of Friday night's men's basketball game in the Icardo Center with CSU Bakersfield chasing visiting Cal State Fullerton. The Roadrunners shot the lights out, but the Titans answered every shot with a big basket of their own as Fullerton hung on to hand CSUB a 90-84 loss.

"The difficult part for us is that we're known as a defensive team," said Rod Barnes, Head Coach of the `Runners. "We're known as a team that gets stops and we didn't do it tonight, especially the second half." Bakersfield came into the contest allowing its opponents an average of just 60.9 points a game, 14th-best in the country. Friday night's loss was CSUB's first of the season in the Icardo Center.

CSUB suffered a one-point, overtime defeat to Long Beach State in its first Big West Conference game of the season and Barnes talked about what it takes to shake off a loss and bounce back: "We have to be who we are. Our character, our identity, is we are a defensive minded team. Whether we win the game or not, the game has to be played the way we practice every day and the way we work every day."

Senior forward Justin McCall paced the `Runners with a career-high 20 points on Friday night to go with three rebounds and three assists. Redshirt senior Taze Moore chipped in 16 points, seven rebounds, and four assists. Dante Maddox Jr.  (22) and Tray Maddox Jr. (21) went off for big offensive nights for Fullerton.

CSUB matched Fullerton's scoring efforts with the `Runners shooting 56 percent from the field and 41 percent from behind the arc. The difference in the game proved to be free throw shooting as Bakersfield hit 11-of-17 from the charity stripe while the Titans went 27-for-37.

First Half

A back and forth first half saw seven ties and seven lead changes. For the first time this season while in the Icardo Center, the `Runners found themselves trailing at halftime. Moore and Shawn Stith paced the `Runners with eight points apiece at the break while Shaun Williams added five points and three assists off the bench.

Second Half

Fullerton was able to keep the `Runners at arm's distance the majority of the second half. Every shot CSUB made to pull within a basket or two was answered with a clutch Fullerton bucket. Down the stretch, the Titans took its biggest lead of the game, 82-71, with 1:43 left on the clock. CSUB battled to the end, drawing within four points with 17 seconds remaining, but Fullerton nailed its free throws to seal the deal.

Another Bakersfield senior, Justin Edler-Davis, added 14 points and three rebounds. Coming off the bench, forward Travis Henson heated up for 10 points on 4-of-7 shooting in 13 minutes of action.

The `Runners outrebounded the Titans, 31-23, and CSUB controlled the paint with a 34-26 advantage in scoring. Fullerton nailed 11-of-20 three-pointers on the evening.

Tomorrow

CSUB (10-6, 6-3 BWC) and Fullerton (5-5, 4-5 BWC) will return to the Icardo Center on Saturday night for one more game to close out the series. Tipoff on Saturday moves forward to 7 p.m. (PT) after Bakersfield's Friday night contest was an 8 p.m. start due to being on ESPNU. Fans can follow the `Runners on Saturday via their regular outlet, ESPN3.
~GoRunners.com~
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